Monday, December 5, 2011

December -- Flower -- Narcissus

Narcissus’s is the birth flower for those born in the month of December. There is a lot of myth, legend and lore that surround this flower. Daffodils are the most common and well known flower in the narcissus family. It is also the name most commonly used to describe all varieties of plants in the narcissus plant family.

Depending on whom you speak with will depend on how many varieties are available. Some believe that there are only 26 species, while others maintain that there are somewhere between 50 and 100. Regardless these plants come in a wide variety of color combinations and shapes. Each type has its very own distinctive fragrance. The most common colors remain in the range an hue of yellows, white, pink and orange.

There are two different theories behind how the Narcissus was named. One is that the plant is named after the narcotic properties contained within the plant. The Greek word “vapkaw narkao” translates to “I grow numb”.

However, the second one is a lot more interesting. It is derived from Greek mythology and speaks of a youth named Narcissus. The story goes that he became so obsessed with his own reflection that he died by the spring and the Narcissus plant sprang up where he perished. Differing stories have him falling in the pool and drowning while trying to kiss his reflection. While another version has him wasting away from thirst and starvation from just sitting on the edge of the pool until he perished.

In the language of flowers, brought to popularity in the Victorian Era, the Narcissus flower meaning is the said to be the possibility of renewal. Today it also represents peace, respect, faithfulness, modesty and formality.

Either way it will make a fantastically vibrant and cheerful gift for anyone’s birthday that falls in the month of December.

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About Us

Tina & Tammy welcome you to Entwined Vines. We have pooled our knowledge to create quality handcrafted wares.
We love beads in all the their splendor. We both started out string and re-stringing and have learned many other techniques to be able to say we are skilled in viking knit, wire braiding, chain maille, knitting, crocheting wire and adorning with beads, delicate wire work, interesting yet unique color and design challenges, and repair work of many forms. We are not metalsmiths or stone workers (although we work with stone in a variety of ways).